JP3519044B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile which forms an image by electrophotography, and particularly, in a developing apparatus using a one-component developer, toner layer regulation. The present invention relates to removal of toner adhered to a blade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A one-component developing device which does not use a carrier is
Not using a carrier not only has a simple structure and can be miniaturized, but it also has advantages in terms of cost and maintenance. Especially, non-magnetic one-component toner that does not use magnetic toner does not use a magnet roller. As a result, a compact, clear and inexpensive developing device can be obtained. Further, since the toner does not contain a magnetic material, it is suitable for colorization. It is known that the one-component developing device is classified into a contact developing method for developing while contacting with a photoreceptor and a non-contact developing method for developing without contact with the photoreceptor, when classified by the developing method. .

Generally, in the one-component developing method, regardless of whether the toner is magnetic or non-magnetic, and whether it is a contact method or a non-contact method, a thin layer of charged one-component toner is formed on a developer carrier. The latent image on the photoconductor is visualized (developed) by transporting this thin layer to a developing position facing the photoconductor on which the latent image is formed, as the developer carrying member rotates. is there.
In this case, how to stably form a thin toner layer having a uniform thickness on the developer carrying member by uniform charging is important for obtaining a good image.

Generally, the charging and thin layer formation of the toner layer on the developer carrying member are carried out by a toner layer regulating blade pressed against the developer carrying member with a predetermined pressure. The charging / thin layer formation of the toner layer is good in the initial stage, but toner may adhere to the toner layer regulating blade due to long-term use, and a good toner layer may not be formed, leading to image deterioration. That is, the toner layer regulating blade is kept in contact with the developer bearing member at a predetermined pressure, and is brought into contact with the developer bearing member of the toner layer regulating blade due to frictional heat, its pressure, or environmental factors such as machine temperature. The toner adheres (fixes) to the blade surface in the contact nip or in the vicinity thereof.

Initially, the adhered substance is a slight amount such as a thin film formed on the surface, which is not a problem in image formation, but it grows as it is used. Eventually, the image will be adversely affected.

That is, the adhered matter deteriorates the chargeability of the toner by the toner layer regulating blade, and blocks the toner inflow opening between the developer carrier and the developer carrier.
Alternatively, mechanical unevenness is formed on the contact surface with the developer carrying member, which causes a total or local decrease in the toner layer thickness and a local slip-through (increase in the layer thickness), which results in a uniform toner layer formation. It cannot be formed. As a result, a decrease in density on the image, partial white streaks, partial black streaks (in the case of monochrome), and the like occur.

In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed a method of cleaning toner adhered matter on the toner layer regulating blade. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-163440, a fixed toner removing member that is slidable is provided between a developer carrying member and a toner layer regulating blade, and the fixing member is slid to remove the fixed toner. Alternatively, the toner layer regulating blade is configured to be slidable in the vertical direction along the developer carrying member, and the toner layer regulating blade is slid up and down to remove the adhered matter.

In addition, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-127509, a toner layer regulating blade is fixed to a moving driving means,
By driving the movement driving means, the contact position between the toner layer regulating blade and the developing roller is changed to prevent the fixed toner from being generated by the toner layer regulating blade.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By the way, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-
As in Japanese Patent No. 163440, sandwiching a removing member between a developer carrying member and a toner layer regulating blade and sliding this removes the surface of the toner layer regulating blade as well as the surface of the developer carrying member. There is a risk of damaging both.

Generally, the toner layer regulating blade is several tens gf / cm to several hundreds g depending on the developer carrying member.
It is pressed with a linear pressure of f / cm. During this time, it is not easy to slide the inserted removing member so as not to damage the toner layer regulating blade and the developer carrying member. In the embodiment of the above publication, the end portion of the removing member is precisely finished, but it is very costly. Further, in order to prevent scratches, it is necessary to make a straight movement so that there is no catch even in sliding movement and there is no trouble.

That is, according to the method described in the above publication, the adhered matter on the toner layer regulating blade can be removed, but the surface of the developer carrying member or the toner layer regulating blade is easily damaged, and the cost is high. Also, moving the two while contacting them may cause more or less damage.

Further, in the case of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-127509, a new moving driving means for fixing the toner layer regulating blade is newly installed, and a large cost increase and a new installation space are newly provided by controlling the moving driving means. Required,
There are limits to diversion of existing equipment. Further, according to the method shown in the embodiment of the above publication, when the contact position of the toner layer regulating blade and the developing roller is changed, the toner layer regulating blade is moved while rubbing the developing roller,
This is not preferable because it may damage the developing roller and the toner layer regulating blade.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that instead of the method of interposing a cleaning member between a developer carrying member and a toner layer regulating blade, The cleaning member is disposed on the surface of the toner layer regulating blade opposite to the surface contacting the developer carrying member,
If this structure is adopted so that it can be slidably moved with respect to the toner layer regulating blade, there is a risk that the surface of the toner layer regulating blade or the surface of the developer carrying member that comes into contact with the regulating member will be scratched by the sliding friction of the cleaning member. Therefore, it was found that the toner adherence on the toner layer regulating blade can be removed or the adherence can be prevented.

In the toner layer regulating blade, if the toner stays still, the same toner group will continue to be stressed, and eventually it will be denatured and fixed, but this is not from the developer carrying member side of the blade. Even when the blade edge portion is slid on the back surface of the blade with the cleaning member, the toner staying near the blade edge can be removed and the staying state can be eliminated.

That is, the state in which the same toner continues to be stressed due to the retention can be eliminated, and as a result, the generation or growth of fixed matter can be delayed. Further, even if the adhered matter has already grown and has grown by the time it protrudes from the blade edge, the adhered matter can be removed by removing the portion visible from the back surface. Since it is integrated with the carrier side), it is possible to remove the entire adhered matter including the adhered matter on the contact surface side.

That is, in the case where the adhered matter has already been formed, the adhered matter is an integral body even if the immediate vicinity of the abutting nip position where the fixation is strongest is not rubbed with a strong force, and the blade surface in that part is integrated. The adhesive strength with is low. Therefore, the part slightly away from the nip or the part protruding from the blade tip (edge) is removed by a force different from the force in the pressing direction of the blade, and the adhered matter is removed with a low force. be able to. As a result, it is possible to eliminate or prevent white stripes, black stripes, and density decrease due to the adhered matter of the blade.

Further, as compared with the intervening method in which the cleaning member is sandwiched between the developer carrying member and the blade, the blade back surface sliding contact method using this cleaning member is as follows.
Not only can the blade contact surface and the developer bearing member be prevented from being damaged, but also the force against the pressing of the blade against the developer bearing member is not required, and the sliding contact movement can be performed with low energy.

The rubbing movement direction of the cleaning member is such that the cleaning member is moved in the width direction from the fixed end (supporting end) side to the free end (contacting end) side and the longitudinal movement is performed in the longitudinal direction of the blade. Any of the methods can be adopted. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cleaning member will be described separately for the blade width direction moving method and the blade longitudinal direction moving method.

First, in the case of the blade width direction moving method, by fixing the sliding direction from the blade fixed end (supporting end) side to the free end (abutting end) side, fixed matter or adhering matter is released with a space. Push out (or pull out)
It is possible to effectively remove adhered substances or adhered substances. Further, when the contact direction of the blade is the leading direction, the force is applied in the direction opposite to the direction of the pressure applied to the adhered material or the retained toner by the toner flowing in from the upstream due to the normal rotation of the developer carrier. Since it is added, it can be removed more effectively.

The length of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction is not particularly limited, and a strip-shaped structure or a structure in which the length of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as that of the blade can be exemplified. In the case of a strip shape, it must also move in the longitudinal direction of the blade, but if the cleaning member has a configuration that is substantially the same as the length of the blade, the entire longitudinal direction of the blade can be efficiently cleaned with the same operation. It is preferable in that the cleaning can be performed by a small vertical movement (widthwise movement) once (or several times).

The shape of the cleaning member is not particularly limited. However, if a sheet-like member, particularly a thin sheet-like member, is adopted, the cleaning member can be constructed very easily, and the adhered matter can be more easily fixed at the edge portion of the sheet-like member. Can be efficiently scraped off.

Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member are
It may be linear or curved, but its ridge (side in the case of a straight line) is not parallel to the cleaning member moving direction (moving direction from the fixed end side of the blade to the free end side), If it is inclined, it is possible to prevent the ridge line portion from slidingly contacting the same portion of the surface of the developer carrier or the back surface of the blade when the cleaning member moves, and the sliding contact damages the surface of the developing roller or the edge portion of the blade. Can be prevented.

If the width of the cleaning member in the projecting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is changed, the ridgeline direction of the edge of the sheet-like cleaning member is the sliding contact moving direction (the moving direction from the fixed end side of the blade to the free end side). Can be inclined with respect to. As a result, only one point (or a plurality of points) of the edge of the cleaning member comes into contact with the adhered matter, and the cleaning force can be concentrated at that point, and the force of the direction component different from the moving direction of the cleaning member can be applied. Can be added and can be removed more effectively. That is, the adhered substances are connected to each other, and the effect of removing the adhered substances at the part can be enhanced by applying a partially concentrated force instead of applying the removing force to the whole at once.

Since the abutting position (cleaning portion) between the edge portion of the cleaning member and the blade tip portion is sequentially moved along with the movement of the cleaning member, the adhered substances can be sequentially removed. Further, since this cleaning portion moves from the removed side to the unremoved side, the force from the removed side can be applied to the unremoved portion, and the adhered matter can be removed efficiently. You can

In this case, by making the width of the cleaning member in the protruding direction bilaterally symmetrical (here, "left and right" means the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member), the force that the cleaning member receives during sliding contact cleaning is also bilaterally symmetrical. Bending and distortion of the cleaning member can be prevented or suppressed. Therefore, a thin and soft sheet-like member can be used as the cleaning member, and the risk of damage to the developer carrying member or the blade by the cleaning member can be further reduced.

When the length of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as that of the blade, the cleaning member is removed symmetrically with respect to the axial direction of the developer carrying member, which is caused by the shape and bending of the cleaning member. Even if an image defect due to defective removal occurs, the image becomes bilaterally symmetrical and can be made inconspicuous.

Further, if the change of the width of the cleaning member in the protruding direction is made linear, the adhered matter can be removed partially and sequentially, and the change of the width is linear, so that in any part. , It is possible to apply forces in the same direction (horizontal and vertical components), and it is possible to eliminate uneven removal of adhered substances.

The structure of the cleaning member is not particularly limited as long as it can remove adhered substances by rubbing against the toner layer regulating blade, but a thin plate-like support having elasticity is used.
By adopting a configuration in which a cleaning member including a soft elastic member or a brush member is attached, a sufficient force can be applied in the pressing direction on the surface, and there is no fear of damaging the developer carrier.

Next, the construction of the cleaning member in the blade longitudinal direction moving method will be described. In the case of the longitudinal movement method, since the cleaning member is not moved in the width direction, the width direction length of the cleaning member needs to be at least the length in contact with the free end of the blade. It does not need to be the same as the above and a strip-shaped member may be used.

The thickness of the cleaning member is not particularly limited, and a soft elastic member or a brush member is attached to a sheet-shaped member or a thin plate-shaped support member having elasticity as in the width direction moving method. A structure can be adopted.

In the case of the longitudinal movement system, in particular, it functions as a blade rubbing portion at both edges in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, but even if the cross-sectional shape is formed by a straight cut, a fixed substance removing effect can be obtained. However, if the both ends are inclined toward the moving direction, the effect of removing the adhered matter is further promoted. As an example of forming the slope, a configuration in which a sheet-shaped cleaning member is bent or curved into an obtuse angle shape, and further, a configuration in which it is bent substantially at a right angle can be exemplified.

As the tip edge shape of this inclined portion, in addition to a shape in which the tip portion is not particularly processed, a knife edge shape in which the edge portion is cut in accordance with the contact angle with the toner layer thickness regulating blade, A knife edge shape in which the contact area is reduced to make point contact with the blade, and a wedge-shaped edge shape in which the thickness becomes thinner toward the outer side in the moving direction can be exemplified. In any of the above cases, the effect of removing adhered substances can be further promoted.

Further, the effect of removing adhered matters can be promoted by forming both ends of the cleaning member in a concavo-convex shape. As an example of forming this uneven shape, a sawtooth shape,
For example, a wavy shape or a rectangular wave shape can be used.

Further, the cleaning member is provided with elongated holes parallel to the edges of both ends, and when the cleaning member is rubbed, the toner or the like present between the toner layer regulating blade and the cleaning member is discharged from the elongated holes. It is also possible to promote the effect of removing adhered substances.

For the movement of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction or the movement in the width direction, either manual operation or various drive mechanisms can be adopted. Also, when using a drive mechanism,
It is also possible to perform according to various operations of the image forming apparatus. The operation of the cleaning member can be performed at various timings. For example, the cleaning member is provided with a counting unit capable of counting at least one of the number of printed images, the operating time, and the number of rotations of the developer carrier. In the image forming apparatus, it is preferable to control the cleaning operation to be executed when the count value of the counting unit reaches a predetermined value.

By regularly cleaning the toner layer regulating blade in this manner, it is possible to remove the adhered substances and prevent the growth of the adhered substances or the generation of the adhered substances themselves for a long period of time. It is possible to obtain an image without white streaks or high-density streaks (black streaks) or an image without a decrease in density due to toner adhesion to the layer regulation blade.

Further, when the power is turned on, when a predetermined number of prints is reached,
Image formation that includes a control unit that performs image adjustment so as to obtain an optimum print image when any one or more operations are performed when a predetermined time is reached and when returning from the energy-saving mode, and that controls image forming process conditions and the like. In the developing device applied to the apparatus, if the control unit controls the cleaning member to perform the cleaning operation before or at the same time as the image adjustment, the image adjustment by removing the image deterioration due to the toner adhesion to the toner layer regulating blade is performed. And a better image can be obtained. Further, since the toner layer regulating blade can be regularly cleaned at the timing of image adjustment, it is possible to maintain a good image for a long period of time.

Further, if the cleaning member is operated to clean the tip of the toner layer regulating blade when the toner container for replenishing the developing tank with new toner is replaced, cleaning can be performed almost regularly. It can be carried out. Further, cleaning the blade when replenishing the fresh toner that is not stressed is effective for recovering the charging property of the blade. Further, at the time of toner replenishment, that is, at the time when the toner in the developing tank is almost used up and the toner is about to run out, the amount of toner in the developing tank is relatively small (a state in which the toner is not clogged to the full). The cleaning operation of the cleaning member can be performed without any hindrance, and blade tip deposits can be effectively removed.

This cleaning member is integrally attached to a toner replenishing container for replenishing new toner, and cleaning is performed when the toner replenishing container is attached, so that the toner container can be replaced reliably and almost regularly. It can be performed. Further, if the toner supply container is provided with the cleaning member, it is not necessary to provide the cleaning member on the developing tank side, and it is not necessary to provide the developing tank side with a special configuration.

As the arrangement of the cleaning member in the developing device, if the cleaning member is attached to the stirring member in the device and the tip of the toner layer regulating blade is cleaned according to the stirring operation of the stirring member, the cleaning member serves as the mixing member. The blade (rear surface) can be cleaned at any mixing timing. Further, the toner agglomerates or the adhered substances removed by the cleaning can be stirred and dispersed as they are in the developing tank, and even the adhered substances can reduce the probability of flowing into the blade contact portion again.

The toner layer regulating blade and the cleaning member can be applied to a developing device using various toners, but are particularly suitable when applied to a non-magnetic one-component toner developing type developing device.

[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Schematic Configuration of Developing Device] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration example of a one-component developing device to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the toner contained in the toner tank (hereinafter abbreviated as “hopper”) of the developing device is conveyed to the vicinity of the developer carrier (hereinafter abbreviated as “developing roller”) 100 by an agitator or a screw. It

A toner supply roller 200 is in pressure contact with the developing roller 100, and the toner supply roller 20
The rotation direction of 0 is the same as that of the developing roller 100, that is, the moving directions of the surfaces of both rollers in the portion facing the developing roller 100 are opposite to each other.

A voltage is applied to the toner supply roller 200 from a bias power supply 210, and the voltage is a direction in which the toner is electrically pushed toward the developing roller 100, for example, in the case of negative polarity toner, The bias voltage is larger on the negative electrode side. The toner that is frictionally charged by the toner supply roller 200 and is supplied to the developing roller 100 by the bias voltage is the developing roller 100.
Is rotated to convey the toner layer regulating blade (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as “blade”) 300 to a position where it abuts. The blade 300 is made of a plate-shaped metal material, and the tip of the blade or the abdomen of the blade near the tip is pressed against the developing roller 100, and the toner on the developing roller 100 has a predetermined pressure depending on a predetermined set pressure and a set position. The toner is regulated by the amount and the thickness of the charged electric charges, and is conveyed to the developing area (a portion facing the photoconductor 51 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed) and enters the developing process.

Developing roller 1 not used in the developing process
The undeveloped toner on 00 returns to the developing device by the rotation of the developing roller 100, but is charged by the charge removing device (means) 400 of the toner on the developing roller 100 installed in front of the toner supply roller 200 after the developing area. The charge is removed, and the toner is separated and collected in the hopper by the pressure contact at the entrance of the toner supply roller 200, and is reused.

Table 1 shows more concretely the equipment constitution and various conditions of one embodiment of the developing tatami to which the present invention is applied.

[0047]

[Table 1]

The photosensitive member 51 is a negative charging drum having a diameter D3 of 30 mm and a surface potential of −550 V and having a conductive base material grounded. The peripheral speed Va = 1 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
It is rotating at 50 mm / s.

In the developing roller 100, a conductive agent such as carbon black is added to the surface of a cylindrical member, the volume resistivity is about 10 ⁶ Ωcm, and the JIS-A hardness is 60 to 70.
A conductive elastic roller having a diameter Db = 20 mm and made of a conductive urethane rubber having a peripheral speed Vb in the unmarked direction in FIG.
= 225 mm / s. This developing roller 10
0 is applied with a voltage of E1 = -300V by the developing bias power source 110 through a shaft of a conductive support (stainless steel, conductive resin, etc.) having a diameter Ds = 10 mm. The developing roller 100 has a developing nip width of about 1.5 m.
The photoconductor drum 51 is in contact with the photoconductor drum 51 via the toner layer so as to be m.

The toner supply roller 200, the toner agitating a volume also serves as a toner removal after development resistivity of about 10 ⁵ .omega.c
m, a cell density of about 3 cells / mm made of a conductive urethane foam, the diameter of which was set to 16 mm, which was in contact with the developing roller 100 at a contact depth of 0.5 to 1 mm, in the direction of the arrow. It is rotating at a peripheral speed Vc = 133 mm / s. A voltage of E2 = -400V is applied to the toner supply roller 200 by a supply bias power supply 210 via a shaft of a conductive support (stainless steel, conductive resin, etc.).

The non-magnetic one-component toner that has been negatively precharged by the supply roller 200 and has transferred to the surface of the developing roller 100 is conveyed to the position where the toner layer regulating blade 300 comes into contact with the rotation of the developing roller 100. .

The toner layer regulating blade 300 has a thickness of 0.
It is a 1 mm conductive (stainless steel, phosphor bronze, conductive resin, etc.) plate-shaped member and has a cantilever leaf spring structure having a free end on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 100, and a linear pressure of about 15 to about 10 to the developing roller. It abuts at 30 gf / cm. A voltage of E3 = −400V is applied to the toner layer regulating blade 300 by the bias power source 390.

The toner layer on the developing roller 100 has a toner adhesion amount of about 0.
6~0.8mg / cm ^2, the toner charge amount is about -10
After being regulated to −15 μC / g, the developing roller 100 is rotated to convey it to a developing area in contact with and oppose the photoconductor 51, and contact reversal development is performed.

The toner charge removing means 400 is a seal for preventing the leakage of the toner from below the developing roller 100, and at the same time, it removes the charge of the undeveloped toner on the developing roller 100 after the development. It is a thing. The toner charge removing unit 400 is made of a conductive film having a thickness of 0.2 mm, and has the same potential as the developing roller 100 or a high potential of about +50 V or more with respect to the developing roller by the bias power supply 410 for the toner charge removing unit. And the conductive surface thereof is brought into contact with the developing roller 100.

The toner charge removing means 400 may be a conductive member such as an aluminum vapor-deposited film, and may be a mylar film or the like when it is not necessary to remove the toner charge and only the lower seal is provided. In this case, the bias power source 410 for the toner charge removing means is not necessary.

The toner used is generally called a high resistance toner. In the case of a toner having electric resistance in the form of pellets, the toner is about 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm, and a polyester resin or a styrene-acrylic copolymer is used as a base resin. 80 ~
About 90 parts by weight of carbon black is mixed and kneaded with about 4 to 10 parts by weight, and 0 to 5 parts by weight of a charge control agent (CCA),
A vulcanization control agent (a minute amount) is contained in an appropriate amount, and silica or the like as an external additive is mixed in an amount of about 0 to 2 parts by weight after the pulverization step.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing device showing the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the toner layer regulating blade as viewed from the back surface side.

The present embodiment relates to a width direction moving system in which the cleaning portion is slid and moved from the fixed end of the blade 300 to the free end side.
00 is thickness 0. A cleaning member 701 composed of a rectangular PET (polyethylene terephthalate) mylar having a length of 2 mm and a side of several tens of mm is provided with a tip on the blade-side surface of a resin support 702 having a thickness of 1 mm and having sufficient rigidity. It is attached so as to project, and a handle 703 is provided on the upper portion of the support body 702.

The cleaning unit 700 is inserted into the developing tank through a vertical slit 730 formed in the developing tank 1, and can be moved up and down by moving a handle 703 up and down. The slidable toner layer regulating blade 300 can be slidably contacted with the back surface of the toner layer regulating blade 300.

Next, the operation of the cleaning section 700 will be described. As the cleaning unit 700 is lowered, its tip 700a eventually comes into contact with the back surface of the blade 300. When it further lowers, it lowers while sliding along the back surface of the blade 300 due to its elasticity. Further, the blade 300 goes down beyond the blade tip portion 300a, which is also the closest to the contact position with the developer carrying member 100.

At this time, the tip 7 of the cleaning unit 700
00a cleans so as to scrape off the blade edge portion 300a from the blade supporting end side. This cleaning operation is sequentially performed over the entire length of the blade to clean the entire blade.

At the upstream of the rotating direction of the developer carrying member 100,
The layer thickness of the toner supplied by the toner supply roller 200 is regulated at the blade edge portion, and excess toner returns to the developing tank. Toner adheres to the blade edge portion due to use over time, and if the adhered toner is sequentially replaced, there is no problem, but the same toner may stay for a long time. Toner that has once stayed is not easily replaced, and it tends to stay indefinitely. Since the toner that is regulated by the blade flows in from the upstream one after another, the staying toner continues to receive the powder pressure of the toner and adheres in a considerably pressed state. On the contrary, when it is pressed and solidified, the replacement does not occur.

Therefore, the cleaning unit 700 is lowered to remove it and return it to another toner. At this time, the removed toner is considerably pressed and solidified and adheres to the blade contact surface side, and is also integrated with the toner that has been similarly clogged. By removing the kimono, the toner on the contact surface side can be removed together.

At this time, the clogging of the non-retained toner is not so strong, so that the integrity with the adhering matter on the blade contact surface side cannot be obtained, and only the adhering toner on the back surface of the blade is removed, and the contact surface is removed. Even if the adhered matter on the side cannot be removed, since the clogging is low, it is not a level that immediately leads to image deterioration, and there is no problem if it can be removed by the next cleaning.

On the other hand, in addition to the case where the toner is not simply pressed and solidified on the blade contact surface, there is a case where a fixed matter that is transformed and strongly adhered due to heat or pressure is generated and grown. In this case, the adhered matter grows in a form protruding from the blade edge portion, and a part of the adhered matter is also visible from the back surface of the blade edge (because it is buried on the toner that is not actually adhered, It is not a direct division.) If this is removed from the rear surface of the blade by the cleaning unit 700, it is possible to remove the entire fixed matter that is integrated.

Particularly, in the case of this embodiment, the blade 3
Reference numeral 00 indicates a structure in the leading direction, and the fixed matter normally continues to receive pressure from the upstream side due to the rotating direction of the developer carrying member. Since the cleaning member is slidably moved in the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side, the whole adhered matter is easily removed as a unit. Of course, even in the case of the trailing structure, the effect of integrally removing the adhered matter can be obtained.

As described above, the cleaning effect can be obtained even when the fixing progresses, but it is preferable to remove the staying toner and delay the occurrence of the fixing itself before the fixing progresses.

In Table 2, when recleaning is performed by the cleaning method of the present embodiment, no cleaning is performed, and the same cleaning member as that of the present embodiment is provided between the developing roller 100 and the toner layer regulating blade 300. The results of the printing test are shown for the case where the cleaning is performed by inserting the cartridge and reciprocating it in the axial direction of the developing roller. In the table, the unit “k” represents the number of printed sheets of 1000, “every 1 k” means cleaning after every 1000 printed sheets, and “every 5 k” means every 5000 sheets of cleaning. In case of 5k (5000
10k (10000 sheets), 15k (15000 sheets)
Sheet), 20k (20,000 sheets), whether white streak is observed, and before and after cleaning (before /
In (after), it is indicated whether or not the white streak disappears.

[0069]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 2, by using this embodiment, a good image without white lines was obtained over a long period of time. Further, it is effective to carry out cleaning regularly. For the sake of comparison, the same cleaning member (PET film having a thickness of 0.2 mm and a width of 20 mm) is sandwiched between the abutting side surfaces of the developer carrying member and the toner layer regulating blade, and the axial direction of the developer carrying member is compared. The cleaning method of manually reciprocating once was carried out.

In this method, it was not easy to sandwich the cleaning member between the developer carrying member and the toner layer regulating blade pressed against the developer carrying member and slide the cleaning member. Also,
The sliding of the cleaning member inevitably damaged the surface of the developer carrying member. If the cleaning frequency is increased, image deterioration due to toner sticking can be prevented, but the probability of damage to the developing roller increases. Also,
This is also due to the use of a cleaning member made of Mylar, but it was difficult to completely clean the adhered matter in the situation where the adherence proceeded.

On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, the sliding contact can be made relatively easily, and the slidable contact of the back surface of the blade was effective in removing the fixed toner. In addition, image stains due to damage to the surface of the developing roller did not occur.

As the cleaning member of this embodiment, a member having a shorter length in the blade longitudinal direction than the blade is used, but a member longer than this may be used. In this case, a wide range can be cleaned with one cleaning operation, which is efficient. Furthermore, it goes without saying that it is better to make the length substantially the same as the length of the blade.

Further, the cleaning member 70 of the present embodiment.
1 used a PET mylar with a thickness of 0.2 mm,
The thickness, the material, etc. are not limited to these, and various thicknesses and various materials can be used as long as they have spring elasticity (flexibility). For example, a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze may be used, or a flexible material such as rubber or resin may be used. Also, a combination of these may be used, for example, a rubber plate attached to the tip of a metal plate.

The shape of the cleaning member 701 is as follows.
In this embodiment, a rectangle is used as shown in FIG.
You may use the anisotropic thing as shown in FIG.4 (b)-(f). That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, a pentagon whose center on the free end side protrudes, and free end 701 as shown in FIG.
A rectangular shape in which one end side of c is set to be longer than the other end side, a shape in which the center of the free end side projects in an arc shape as shown in (d) of the figure, and a zigzag shape at the free end side as shown in (e) of the figure. Any of those having a wavy shape on the free end side as shown in FIG.

In this case, since the tip of the cleaning member 701 does not contact the tip of the blade at the same time, the force applied to the contacting portion can be concentrated, and the adhering matter can be removed efficiently. In addition, since the portion contacting the blade edge is sequentially moved by the descending operation of the cleaning member, the adhered substances are also removed in order. At this time, since a force is applied to the adhered matter from the side after the removal, the adhered matter can be easily removed. Also in this case, it goes without saying that the blade may be long in the longitudinal direction of the blade, or may be substantially the same as the length of the blade.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the edge ridge lines 701b at both ends of the cleaning member 701 in the longitudinal direction are inclined with respect to the moving direction of the cleaning member. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the edge ridge lines from slidingly contacting the same point when the cleaning member moves up and down, and to avoid damaging the developing roller and the blade edge portion.

On the other hand, the tip shape of the toner layer regulating blade 300 is shown in FIGS. 6B to 6E, including those in which the tip portion is not particularly processed as shown in FIG. 3 with a slanted portion 301 at the tip
If it is 00, this cleaning method is effective. That is, a linear inclined portion (FIG. 2B), an arc-shaped inclined portion (FIG. 3C), an outwardly bent inclined portion (FIG. 3D), and an outwardly curved inclined portion. (A variety of shapes such as that shown in FIG. 7E can be adopted. In the configuration of the plate-shaped layer thickness regulating blade 300 which is brought into contact with the surface of the developing roller at the leading edge or in the vicinity of the edge, the cleaning of the present embodiment is performed. If a member is used, the adhered toner can be effectively removed.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 7A to 7D.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the cleaning member 701. The length of these cleaning members 701 is substantially the same as the length of the blade 300 in the longitudinal direction, and the width in the protruding direction is symmetrical with respect to the axial direction of the developing roller. Cleaning member 7 of the present embodiment
The shape of 01 is a sloping portion 701 on the ridge line at both end edges in FIG.
b, and the free end 701c is shown in FIGS. 4 (a) (b) (d).
It has a shape corresponding to (f).

With the above structure, the cleaning effect of the blade 300 is also symmetrical. Further, since the force that the cleaning member 701 receives by the sliding contact with the blade edge portion is also symmetrical in the axial direction, the strain due to this force can be offset and suppressed, and the sliding contact and the cleaning can be favorably performed. Further, the cleaning effect is also symmetrical, and even if uneven cleaning occurs, it is not noticeable on the image.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a cleaning unit 700 according to a third embodiment. The cleaning unit 700 has a thickness of 0. The first support 702 is made of resin and has a length of 2 mm and a Mylar sheet 701 having the same length as the blade longitudinal direction and attached to the tip. The first support 702 is a slit 730 provided in the developing tank 1.
It is attached to the second support 710 outside the developing tank.

Both ends of the second support 710 are extended in the length direction of the blade, and the extended portions are supported by the link mechanisms 720 on both sides of the developing tank as shown in FIG. It is linked to the rotating cam 721.

The link mechanism 720 has a fulcrum 720 at the center.
The link 720a having a straight rod shape that rotates as d, the elongated hole 720b formed at one end of the link and into which the extended portion of the second support 710 is fitted, and the link 720 connected to the other end of the link The link 7 is provided with a spring 720c that biases upward.
The other end side of 20a is in contact with the cam surface of the cam 721.

In the moving mechanism of the cleaning unit 700 using the cam 721 and the link mechanism 720, the cleaning unit 701 moves up and down by the rotation of the cam. When the cleaning member 701 moves down by the operation of the cam mechanism and the link mechanism, the cleaning member 701
The front end 700a of the blade will eventually hit the back surface of the blade. When it further goes down, it goes down along the back surface of the blade 300 due to its elasticity (flexibility). Further, the blade 300 goes down beyond the blade tip portion 700a, which is the closest to the contact position with the developer carrying member 100.

At this time, the tip 700a of the cleaning member 701 is cleaned so as to scrape off the blade edge portion 300a from the blade supporting end side. The cleaning member 701 is normally in a position retracted sufficiently upward by the position of the cam 720a.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the cleaning section of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10A, the cleaning unit 700 is formed by fixing a pad-like cleaning member 701 such as felt to a support 702 having spring elasticity such as metal or resin. The cleaning unit 700 is applied to the developing device according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

The support 702 extends into the inside of the developing tank through the slit 730 provided in the developing tank 1, and the pad-like cleaning member 701 attached to the tip presses the blade tip from the back surface. The cleaning member is slid by a manual operation or a drive mechanism such as a cam mechanism to remove the deposits on the blade abutting end.

The cleaning section 700 may be detachable at a predetermined position of the developing tank, or may be configured to be retracted in the direction of releasing the pressure contact with the blade end and the non-image area at the end of the developing tank. .

Instead of the pad-like cleaning member 701, a brush-like member as shown in FIG. 10B may be used. As the material of the brush, chemical fibers such as nylon and rayon can be used. The diameter is preferably about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. Further, instead of the felt pad 701, a rubber plate member such as urethane rubber or silicon rubber may be used.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a developing device according to the fifth embodiment. In this developing device, when the amount of toner remaining in the developing tank 1 decreases, a toner container 750 containing a new toner cartridge is mounted from above, and a lower seal 760 of the toner container is pulled out to remove new toner. It is a developing device of the type that replenishes.

The toner container 750 has a thickness of 0.
Cleaning member 70 made of a 2 mm PET sheet
0 projects downward. When the toner container 750 is attached to the developing tank 1 from above, the cleaning member 700 is used.
However, it enters along the back surface of the blade 300 and reaches below the tip of the blade while slidingly cleaning the back surface of the blade.

The cleaning section 700 is integrated with a lower seal member 760 that seals the lower surface opening of the toner container 750, and when the seal member 760 is pulled out, it is pulled out together and new toner is replenished.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device according to a sixth embodiment. The toner in the developing tank 1 is regularly or irregularly stirred by the rotation of the stirring blade 800. Therefore, a cleaning member 701 made of urethane rubber having a thickness of 0.5 mm is attached to the tip of the stirring blade 800, and
As the blade rotates, the blade tip is rubbed for cleaning.

By attaching to the stirring blade 800,
The blade can be cleaned with a simple structure. In addition, since cleaning is performed at the timing of stirring, cleaning can be performed in a relatively short cycle,
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of adhered substances.

Although the cleaning member 701 of the present embodiment uses urethane rubber having a thickness of 0.5 mm, the thickness, the material, etc. are not limited to these, and those having an appropriate effect can be used. .

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device showing a seventh embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the toner layer regulating blade as seen from the back surface thereof. Unlike the first to sixth embodiments, the present embodiment relates to a longitudinal movement method of sliding and moving in the length direction of a blade for cleaning.

The cleaning unit 700 has a thickness of 0.2 m.
m, a cleaning member 701 made of a rectangular PET mylar having a side of about several tens of millimeters is provided with a thickness 1 having sufficient rigidity.
A resin support member 702 having a size of about mm is attached so that its tip projects from the free end of the blade 300 toward the outside of the blade, and a handle 703 is provided on the upper portion of the support member 702.

The cleaning section 700 is inserted into the developing tank 1 through a slit 730 provided in the developing tank 1, and is configured to be slidable in the longitudinal direction via a handle 703. As the driving mechanism, a structure in which a timing belt wound between pulleys on both ends is reciprocated by a motor, a structure in which a timing belt is reciprocated by a cylinder or the like, and a vibration source having a known structure for vibrating the cleaning member 701 is used. An added configuration or the like can be adopted.

In the above structure, the cleaning member 7
01 scrapes the front end portion 300a of the toner layer regulating blade 300 from the back surface side.
Toner layer control blade 300
The surface of the toner layer is not damaged, and the adhered toner on the toner layer regulating blade 300 can be safely removed. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the cleaning unit 700 can improve the efficiency of removing the adhered toner by using the thin cleaning member 701 as the place where the adhered toner is actually removed. Here, the back and front surfaces of the toner layer regulating blade 300 are based on the premise that the surface facing the developing roller 100 is the front surface.

In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 7
No. 00 is configured by attaching two members such as a support member 702 and a handle 703 to a thin plate-shaped cleaning member 701. However, after securing rigidity by the sliding operation of the blade in the longitudinal direction, the cleaning member 701, the supporting member 702, and the handle 703 can be configured as one member, and in this case, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be realized.

Table 2 shows the case where re-cleaning is performed by the cleaning method of the present embodiment, the case where no cleaning is performed, and the same mylar member as that of the present embodiment is used between the developing roller 100 and the toner layer regulating blade 300. The result of the printing test is shown in the case where the re-cleaning is performed by reciprocating the developing roller 100 in the axial direction. In the case of this embodiment, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained, and a good image without white lines was obtained for a long period of time.

[Eighth Embodiment] FIGS. 15 to 21 are views showing other shapes of the cleaning member 701. First, FIGS. 15 to 17 show an example in which the cleaning member 701 attached to the lower end of the support member 702 is provided with the inclined portions 705 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In the drawings, the hatched portion indicates the attachment portion.

As shown in FIG. 14, even if the cleaning member 701 is formed in a straight cut shape as shown in FIG. 14, the effect of removing adhered matters can be obtained, but the blade longitudinal ends are inclined toward the moving direction. If the blades are provided and both edges thereof are rubbed against the back surface of the blade 300, the effect of removing adhered substances is further promoted.

As an example of forming the slope, as shown in FIG.
A configuration in which both longitudinal ends of the sheet-shaped cleaning member 701 are bent into obtuse angles to form the inclined portion 705,
As shown in FIG. 16, a curved R-shaped inclined portion 705 may be formed. Further, FIGS.
As shown in (a), it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which both end portions are bent substantially at right angles to form an inclined portion (bent portion) 705.

According to this structure, the effect of removing adhered substances can be promoted as the strength and rigidity of the cleaning member 701 are improved. Note that the “inclined portion” of the present embodiment is a concept including a case of being bent at a right angle as shown in FIG.

As the tip edge shape of the inclined portion 705, in addition to the shape in which the tip portion is not specially processed, FIG.
As shown in (a), a knife edge shape in which the edge portion 706 is cut in accordance with the contact angle with the toner layer regulating blade 300, or as shown in (b) of the drawing, the contact area with the blade is reduced to regulate the toner layer. A knife edge shape that makes point contact with the blade 300 is preferable. Further, when the cleaning member 701 is bent at a right angle, as shown in FIG. 17C, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a wedge-shaped edge portion 706 whose tip is gradually thinned outward in the moving direction is adopted. In any of the above cases, the effect of removing adhered substances can be further promoted.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the case where the uneven portion 707 is formed at both ends of the cleaning member 701 in the form of a thin sheet. Even if such uneven portion 707 is formed,
The effect of removing adhered substances can be promoted.

Here, as for the shape of the convex / concave portions 707, when both end edges of the thin sheet cleaning member 707 in the reciprocating direction have a sawtooth shape as shown in FIG. 18A, FIG. This means a case of a wavy shape as shown in FIG. 1 or a case of a rectangular wave as shown in FIG.

FIG. 19A shows an uneven portion 707 shown in FIG.
In addition to the above configuration, a plurality of elongated holes 7 parallel to the edges of both ends
08 shows an example in which the cleaning member 701 is provided in the cleaning member 701, and FIG. 18B shows an example in which a convex concave portion 707a is formed on the long side of the elongated hole.

In any of the embodiments, the elongated hole 708 is provided in the cleaning member 701, so that the toner and the like present between the toner layer regulating blade 300 and the cleaning member 701 are slid while the cleaning member 701 is slid. The effect of removing the adhered matter on the toner layer regulation blade 300 discharged from the elongated hole 708 can be promoted.

20 and 21 show the cleaning member 70.
It is a perspective view at the time of providing inclination in the cross-sectional shape of 1. When the inclined portions 705 are provided at both ends of the cleaning member 701, unlike the above-described thin sheet cleaning member 701, almost no effect can be obtained even if the elongated hole 708 is provided as it is.

In order to exert the effect of removing the adhered matters by the elongated hole 708, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the edge portion on the long side of the elongated hole 708 is folded back to form the folded portion 709, and this problem is solved. It can be resolved. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, if the convex and concave portions 707a are formed also at the tip of the folded portion 709 of the elongated hole 708, the effect of removing adhered substances can be further promoted.

[Ninth Embodiment] FIG. 22 is a schematic flow chart showing the operation of the cleaning member according to the ninth embodiment, and relates to the cleaning execution timing.

The developing device is applied to an image forming apparatus having a counting means for counting the number of printed sheets, and is controlled so as to perform a cleaning operation when the count value by the counting means reaches a predetermined value. is there.

The cleaning operation includes both blade width direction movement and blade longitudinal direction movement in the case of the blade width direction movement system, and means blade longitudinal direction movement in the blade length direction movement system. As the cleaning unit moving mechanism used in the width direction moving method, a mechanism using the cam 721 and the link mechanism 720 in the third embodiment, a moving mechanism using a cylinder or the like, or a timing belt moving mechanism using a motor may be adopted. . As the longitudinal movement method, a movement mechanism such as a cylinder or a timing belt movement mechanism such as a motor may be adopted. In either case, the handle 703 or the like is connected to a related member (not shown), and a cleaning member activation signal is received from the control unit, so that the toner layer description blade 300 is received.
It is designed to be cleaned.

The controller for controlling the cleaning operation is C
A storage device (for example, an electrically rewritable memory such as an EEPROM) that is composed of a microcomputer including a PU, a ROM, a RAM, and can rewrite data (cleaning control print number counter) that is required for the cleaning operation. Also, a counting means for counting the number of printed sheets is provided, and these signals are inputted and calculated to execute a predetermined cleaning operation.

In the above-mentioned structure, as shown in FIG. 22, in the image forming apparatus, when the copy lamp is turned on from the READY state (step 1), the printing process is started, and when the printing operation is completed (step 2), the printing after the previous cleaning is performed. The number of sheets, that is, the value of the cleaning control print sheet counter is incremented by 1 (step 3). Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter has reached a predetermined number of sheets (step 4). As a result, when it is determined that it has reached the predetermined number, and outputs the cleaning motion <br/> operation signal from the toner layer regulating blade, for cleaning operations of the blade (step5). If cleaning is completed, clear the cleaning control print number counter to 0 (step 6), and READY
Return to the state.

By repeating such an operation, the blade can be cleaned every predetermined number of prints, and a good image can be maintained for a long period of time.

In this example, the recleaning operation is performed depending on the number of printed sheets, but the cleaning operation may be performed by counting the movable time of the apparatus and the rotation time of the developing roller, or a combination thereof may be performed. May be. For example, cleaning may be performed when any of the count values reaches a predetermined value, or conversely, cleaning may be performed when a plurality of count values reach a predetermined value. Further, the number of times cleaning is performed may be counted, and the predetermined value may be changed according to the counted number. These are
It is best to use the best method.

[Tenth Embodiment] FIG. 23 is a schematic flow chart showing the operation of the cleaning member in the tenth embodiment. This example shows another example of the ninth embodiment regarding the timing of cleaning, and an image forming apparatus having an image adjusting function so that an optimal image can be obtained even in environmental changes and long-term use. Has been applied.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the power is turned on, the image adjustment is performed so that the optimum print image is obtained, and the control unit for controlling the image forming process conditions and the like is provided.
The control unit controls the cleaning member to perform the cleaning operation before or simultaneously with the image adjustment.

In the moving mechanism of the cleaning member 700, as in the ninth embodiment, the handle 703 of the cleaning unit 700 and the like are connected to related members (not shown), and the cleaning member activation signal is received, whereby the toner layer is regulated. The blade 300 is cleaned. The control unit is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is configured to execute the cleaning operation and the image adjusting operation.

In the above structure, as shown in FIG. 23, after the main power switch of the image forming apparatus main body is turned on (step 1),
A blade cleaning operation (step 2) is performed. After that, image adjustment is performed (step 3). The image adjustment here means, for example, developing a test pattern, sensing a developed image by a density sensor, determining a deviation amount from a reference density, and based on the determination, setting an image forming condition to a reference value. It means to control by changing to the direction closer to.

That is, this embodiment is an example in which the image forming apparatus main body is applied to an apparatus for performing image adjustment when the power is turned on, and the blade is cleaned before performing the image adjustment.

The image adjustment is not limited to the time when the power is turned on. For example, when the number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number of sheets, when the operation time reaches a predetermined time, when returning from the energy saving mode, etc. Is also applicable. In other words, by performing cleaning of the blade before performing image adjustment, it is possible to perform image adjustment with the blade being cleaned, and perform good image adjustment even in environmental changes and long-term use. And good printing can be maintained.

The cleaning operation is not limited to before the image adjustment but may be controlled to be performed simultaneously with the image adjustment.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, although the cooling member including the soft elastic member and the brush-shaped member shown in FIG. 10 is applied to the width direction moving method in which the blade is moved from the fixed end to the free end side, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the soft elastic member and the brush-shaped member can be applied to the longitudinal movement system.

As another example of the first and seventh embodiments, the effect of removing adhered substances is improved by making the thickness of both ends of the plate-like cleaning member in the longitudinal direction decrease along the moving direction. A configuration for increasing the number can be adopted.

Further, in the developing device shown in FIG. 8, a moving mechanism for the cleaning member 700 shown in FIG. 9 is provided, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the cleaning member 700 is provided. This control unit is newly installed in the developing tank. Cleaning member 7 at the time of replacing the toner container for replenishing various toners.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which 00 is operated to control the cleaning of the tip of the toner layer regulating blade 300.

In this case, detection at the time of replacement of the toner container is performed by signals from a touch sensor (pressure sensor) provided in the developing tank, an optical sensor or the like, and the control unit receives signals from these sensors. It is only necessary to determine whether or not the toner storage container is attached, and drive and control the moving mechanism of the cleaning member 700.

[0131]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the cleaning member is arranged on the surface of the toner layer regulating blade opposite to the contact surface with the developer carrying member, and the cleaning member is arranged on the surface of the toner layer regulating blade. Since it is slidable on the back side, the risk of scratching the surface of the toner layer regulating blade and the contact surface of the developer bearing member against the regulating member due to the rubbing of the cleaning member is reduced. It is possible to remove the kimono or prevent the adhered matter from being generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing device including a cleaning unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning unit.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4F are views showing an actual shape of a cleaning member.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the cleaning member.

6A to 6E are cross-sectional views showing the cross-sectional shape of the tip of the toner layer regulating blade.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are schematic views showing an implementation shape of the cleaning member according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a developing device showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cleaning unit drive mechanism in the same manner.

10A and 10B are perspective views of a cleaning unit showing a fourth embodiment, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device showing a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit as seen from the back side of the toner layer regulating blade.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example in which inclined portions are provided at both ends of the cleaning member according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another example of the inclined portion.

17 (a), (b), and (c) are views showing the tip edge shape of the inclined portion.

18 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing uneven shapes at both ends of the cleaning member.

19 (a) and 19 (b) are perspective views showing an example in which the cleaning member is also provided with an elongated hole.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a cleaning member, which is also provided with an inclined portion and an elongated hole, as viewed from the blade back surface side

FIGS. 21 (a) and 21 (b) are perspective views showing an example in which a cleaning member is provided with an elongated hole and an uneven portion.

FIG. 22 is a schematic flowchart showing a cleaning operation according to the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing cleaning timing in the tenth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Development unit (development tank) 51 photoconductor drum 100 developer carrier 110 Development bias power supply 200 supply rollers 210 Supply roller bias power supply 300 toner layer control blade 390 Toner layer control blade bias power supply 400 Toner charge removing means after completion of development 410 Bias power supply for toner charge removing means 700 cleaning section 701 cleaning member 703 Support member 705 slope 706 Tip edge 707 uneven part 708 slot 709 Folding part 800 stirring member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mikie Kobayashi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Wakata 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Sharp shares Company (72) Inventor Mio Masuda 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Toshihide Ogoshi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsu 22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture, Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Masahiro Sakai 22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture (56) Reference (JP) Sho 62 -39885 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08 G03G 15/00

Claims (28)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner layer regulation blade for pressing the surface of a developer carrying body to regulate the thickness of a toner layer on the surface of the developer carrying body, and abutting the toner carrying layer of the toner layer regulating blade with the developer carrying body. A cleaning member that removes toner adhered matter near the edge, the cleaning member being disposed on a surface of the toner layer restriction blade opposite to the contact surface with the developer carrier, and the toner layer restriction blade. A developing device that is slidably movable from the fixed end side to the free end side. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction is set to be substantially the same as the length of the toner layer regulating blade in the longitudinal direction. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is formed in a sheet shape. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein both ends of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction are set so that their ridge lines are inclined with respect to the moving direction of the cleaning member. 5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is formed in a sheet shape, and is set so that the width of the toner layer regulating blade in the protruding direction is changed with respect to the longitudinal direction. apparatus. 6. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the width of the cleaning member in the protruding direction is set symmetrically with respect to the center position of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction. 7. The width of the cleaning member in the protruding direction is set so as to change linearly.
The developing device described. 8. A toner layer regulating blade for pressing the toner bearing surface of the developer bearing body to regulate the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the developer bearing body, and abutting the toner layer regulating blade on the developer bearing body. A cleaning unit for removing toner adhered matter in the vicinity of the end, wherein the cleaning unit is constituted by adhering a cleaning member made of a soft elastic member to an elastic thin plate-like support, and the developer of the toner layer regulating blade. A developing device which is disposed on a surface opposite to a contact surface with a carrier and is slidable and movable from a fixed end side to a free end side of the toner layer regulating blade. 9. A toner layer regulating blade for pressing the toner bearing surface of the developer bearing body to regulate the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the developer bearing body, and the toner layer regulating blade for contacting the developer bearing body. A cleaning unit for removing toner adhered matter near the end, the cleaning unit being constituted by adhering a cleaning member composed of a brush member to an elastic thin plate-like support, and carrying the developer of the toner layer regulating blade. A developing device which is disposed on a surface opposite to a contact surface with a body and is slidable and movable from a fixed end side to a free end side of the toner layer regulating blade. 10. The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is integrally attached to a toner storage container for supplying new toner. 11. The cleaning member is attached to a stirring member in a developing device, and the tip of the toner layer regulating blade is cleaned according to the stirring operation of the stirring member. Developing device. 12. A toner layer regulation blade for elastically contacting the surface of a developer bearing body to regulate the thickness of a toner layer on the surface of the developer bearing body, and the vicinity of a contact end of the toner layer regulation blade with the developer bearing body. A cleaning member for removing the toner adhered matter of, the cleaning member is disposed on the surface of the toner layer regulating blade opposite to the contact surface with the developer carrying member, and the length of the toner layer regulating blade is long. A developing device that can be slidably moved in any direction. 13. The developing device according to claim 12, wherein the cleaning member is capable of reciprocating motion or vibration along the longitudinal direction of the toner layer regulating blade. 14. A toner layer control blade for elastically contacting the surface of a developer carrying member to control the thickness of a toner layer on the surface of the developer carrying member, and the vicinity of a contact end of the toner layer controlling blade with the developer carrying member. A cleaning member for removing the toner adhered matter of, the cleaning member is formed in a sheet shape, and is arranged on the surface of the toner layer regulating blade opposite to the contact surface with the developer carrying member, A developing device that is slidably movable in the longitudinal direction of the layer regulation blade. 15. A sloping portion is formed at both ends of the sheet-like cleaning member in the moving direction, and an edge of the sloping portion is slidably movable on the toner layer regulating blade.
The developing device described. 16. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein both edge portions of the sheet-like cleaning member are formed in an edge shape whose thickness decreases along the moving direction. 17. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein unevenness is formed on both edges in the moving direction of the sheet-like cleaning member. 18. The developing device according to claim 17, wherein corrugated uneven portions are formed at both ends in the reciprocating direction of the sheet-like cleaning member. 19. The developing device according to claim 17, wherein saw-toothed concavo-convex portions are formed at both ends in the reciprocating direction of the sheet-like cleaning member. 20. The developing device according to claim 17, wherein rectangular wave-shaped uneven portions are formed at both ends of the sheet-like cleaning member in the reciprocating direction. 21. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the sheet-like cleaning member is formed with elongated holes parallel to both ends in the reciprocating direction. 22. The sheet-like cleaning member is formed with elongated holes parallel to both ends in the reciprocating direction, and long side edges of the elongated holes are folded back to form folded-back portions. The developing device according to claim 17. 23. The developing device according to claim 22, wherein the long side edge portion of the elongated hole is folded back, and an uneven portion is formed on the folded portion. 24. A toner layer regulating blade for elastically contacting the surface of a developer carrying body to regulate the thickness of a toner layer on the surface of the developer carrying body, and the vicinity of a contact end of the toner layer regulating blade with the developer carrying body. and a cleaning unit that removes the toner adhering matter, the cleaning unit is configured by laminating a cleaning member made of a soft elastic member in a thin plate-like support, the contact between the developer carrying member of the toner layer regulating blade A developing device which is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface and is slidably movable in the longitudinal direction of the toner layer regulating blade. 25. A toner layer regulating blade for elastically contacting the surface of the developer bearing member to regulate the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the developer bearing member, and the vicinity of the contact end of the toner layer regulating blade with the developer bearing member. comprising of a cleaning unit for removing toner attached material, the cleaning unit is configured by laminating a cleaning member consisting of the brush member in a thin plate-like support, the contact surface between the developer carrying member of the toner layer regulating blade And a developing device which is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the toner layer regulating blade. 26. A developing device applied to an image forming apparatus equipped with a counting unit capable of counting at least one of the number of printed sheets, the operating time, and the number of revolutions of a developer carrying member,
The cleaning operation is controlled to be performed when the count value of the counting means reaches a predetermined value.
5. The developing device according to any one of 5. 27. When the power is turned on, when a predetermined number of prints is reached, when a predetermined time is reached, or when returning from the energy-saving mode, any one or more operations are performed to perform image adjustment so that an optimum print image is obtained, A developing device applied to an image forming apparatus including a control unit for controlling image forming process conditions,
26. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the cleaning member to perform the cleaning operation before or simultaneously with the image adjustment. 28. A control unit for controlling the operation of the cleaning member is provided, and the control unit operates the cleaning member when the toner container for replacing the toner in the developing tank is replaced. The control for cleaning the tip of the toner layer regulating blade is performed.
5. The developing device according to any one of 5.